What is the ADP?

The Ad Hoc Working Group on the Durban Platform for Enhanced Action (ADP) is a subsidiary body that was
established by
decision 1/CP.17 in December 2011. The mandate of the ADP is to develop a protocol, another
legal instrument or an agreed outcome with legal force under the Convention applicable to all Parties,
which is to be completed no later than 2015 in order for it to be adopted at the twenty-first session
of the Conference of the Parties (COP) and for it to come into effect and be implemented from
2020.
By the same decision, the COP launched a workplan on enhancing mitigation ambition to identify and to
explore options for a range of actions that can close the ambition gap with a view to ensuring the
highest possible mitigation efforts by all Parties.

Sessions

Additional information on the work of the ADP

At its first session, in 2012, the ADP adopted the agenda, as set out in document FCCC/ADP/2012/2,
paragraph 13, initiating work under two workstreams: workstream 1 on matters
related to paragraphs 2 to 6 of decision 1/CP.17 (agenda item 3(a)) and workstream
2 on matters related to paragraphs 7 and 8 of the same decision (agenda item 3(b)). Throughout
2013 and 2014, the ADP has continued its work under both workstreams including through a series
of in-session round-table discussions and workshops, as well as technical expert meetings and
briefings, taking into account submissions from Parties and observer organizations as invited by
the ADP.

The first session of the ADP in 2015 was held in Geneva (ADP 2-8). The ADP concluded its work in
Paris on 5 December 2015 (ADP 2-12).

Workstream 1: the 2015 agreement

The COP, by
decision 1/CP.17, launched a process to develop a protocol, another legal instrument or an agreed
outcome with legal force under the Convention applicable to all Parties (also referred to as the 2015
agreement), which shall be adopted at the twenty-first session of the COP, in 2015, for it to come
into effect and be implemented from 2020.

According to
decision 2/CP.18, the ADP is to consider elements for a draft negotiating text no later than at
its session to be held in conjunction with COP 20, in December 2014, with a view to making available
a negotiating text before May 2015.

Decision
1/CP.19, adopted in Warsaw, requested the ADP to further elaborate, beginning at its
first session in 2014, elements for a draft negotiating text, taking into consideration its work,
including, inter alia, on mitigation, adaptation, finance, technology development and transfer,
capacity-building and transparency of action and support.

In Lima, through
decision 1/CP.20, Parties acknowledged the progress made in elaborating the elements for a draft
negotiating text as contained in the annex to the decision. Parties further requested the ADP
to intensify its work, with a view to making available a negotiating text for a protocol,
another legal instrument or an agreed outcome with legal force under the Convention applicable to all
Parties before May 2015.

Through the same decision, Parties requested the secretariat to communicate the negotiating text to
Parties in accordance with provisions of the Convention and the applied rules of procedure, while
noting that such communication will not prejudice whether the outcome will be a protocol, another
legal instrument or an agreed outcome with legal force under the Convention applicable to all
Parties.

Workstream 2: pre-2020 ambition

The COP, by
decision 1/CP.17, noted with grave concern the significant gap between the aggregate effect of
Parties' mitigation pledges in terms of global annual emissions of greenhouse gases by 2020 and
aggregate emission pathways consistent with having a likely chance of holding the increase in global
average temperature below 2 °C or 1.5 °C above pre-industrial levels.

Though the same decision, the COP decided to launch a workplan on enhancing mitigation ambition to
identify and explore options for a range of actions that can close the ambition gap, with a view to
ensuring the highest possible mitigation efforts by all Parties.

In Doha, through
decision 2/CP.18, the COP decided to identify and explore in 2013 options for a range of actions
that can close the pre-2020 ambition gap, with a view to identifying further activities for its plan
of work in 2014, ensuring the highest possible mitigation efforts under the Convention.

Decision 1/CP.19
requested the ADP to accelerate its conduct of the workplan on enhancing mitigation ambition to
identify and to explore options for a range of actions that can close the ambition gap, with a view
to ensuring the highest possible mitigation efforts by all Parties in the context of decision
1/CP.17, paragraphs 7 and 8. Parties also decided to accelerate activities under the workplan on
enhancing mitigation ambition in accordance with decision 1/CP.17, paragraphs 7 and 8, by, inter
alia, intensifying, as from 2014, the technical examination of
opportunities for actions with high mitigation potential, including those with adaptation and
sustainable development co-benefits, with a focus on the implementation of policies, practices and
technologies that are substantial, scalable and replicable, with a view to promoting voluntary
cooperation on concrete actions in relation to identified mitigation opportunities in accordance with
nationally defined development priorities.

The secretariat has set up a portal which presents information on cooperative
initiatives undertaken around the world at various levels by governments, international
organizations, civil society, and business to reduce emissions.

In Lima, the COP, by decision 1/CP.20, reiterated its resolve to enhance ambition in the pre-2020 period in
order to ensure the highest possible mitigation efforts under the Convention by all Parties. The COP
further decided to continue the technical examination of opportunities with high mitigation
potential, including those with adaptation, health and sustainable development co-benefits, in the
period 2015–2020 and requested the ADP to make recommendations in relation to further advancing
the technical examination process, including the periodic assessment of the technical expert
meetings, to the COP at its twenty-first session.